Carrier for driers and the like



F. L. FURBUSH.

CARRIER FOR DRIERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION Fl-LED MA-Y'3h1-919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

nuemtoz %1Q attozmags FRANK L. FURBUSI-I, OF -WESTFOBD, MASSAOI-IUSETT ASSIGNOR TS C. G. SARGENTS SONS CORPORATION, OF GRI'RIII'IEVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A O'OR-I ORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CARRIER FOR DRIERS AND TI-IE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed May 31, 1919. Serial No. 300,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. FURBUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVestford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Carrier for Driers and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a carrier designed particularly for use in driers for drying wool and fibrous material in general, but capable of general use. v

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a carrying device for the wool or the like which will be more economical and durable than those which have been used heretofore and which will provide ample facilities for the circulation of air through the fibrous material which is located on it in a substantially continuous sheet. The invention also involves improvements in details of construction, particularly in the manner of mounting the conveying plates on the bars which carry them and in the means for holding the plates in proper position for carrying thewool and affording air circulation. Further objects and ad vantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which *igure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a drier, the section being taken at the edge of the carrier so as to show the latter in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a few elements of the carrier on enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan of a part of one edge of the carrier and associated parts;

Fig. 4 is a-perspective .view of one of the carrier plates, and Fig. 5 is a plan.

The invention is designed to eliminate the ordinary traveling perforated or wire cloth apron and substitute for it a carrier of more flexible and economical'type, but it is intended to be applied to the drier in a way that is analogous to that which is well known in practice. The carrier comprises a pair of endless chains 10 located within the drier and operated by sprocket wheels 11 in any desired way. These chains are provided with cross bars 12 which are formed of tubes. Each tube has projecting into the end thereof a stud 18 having integrally connected with it a link 1% which constitutes one of the chain links, the other links bein connected with it in the usual way. These tubular bars therefore are pivotally mounted on the two studs 13 in each case.

Each tubular bar is provided with a longitudinal slot at 15 extending preferably throughout its length for receiving a carrier plate 16. This plate can be formed of sheet metal perforated as shown, or by means of any other suitable material; This plate is shown in this case as doubled over at its forward and rear edges to form a double margin at 17 thicker than the body of the plate. This margin at one edge is inserted in the tube behind the slot 15 by sliding the plate into the end of the tube longitudinally and it serves as a means for holding the plate to the tubular bar. This is a very simple, durable and inexpensive device for this purpose and it has no features that are likely to get out of order or to deteriorate within any reasonable time. It is not intended to be firmly fixed to the bar but that can be done if desired by putting the bar into a press and forcing the edges of the slot together and clamping the plate to it in that way.

These plates are arranged as indicated so that the travel of the conveyor results in dragging each plate along behind it at an angle to the horizontal. For this purpose the drier is provided with two or more longitudinal tracks 20, three being shown in the present case, two at the sides and one at the center. These are located below the upper strands of the chains and serve to support the depending rear edges of the plate 16. Preferably I keep the plates 16 in contact with each other as the chains pass around on the sprockets at each end by means of pulleys 24 running on the same shafts as the sprockets, the plates forming tangents to these supporting pulleys.

I have also shown a small roll 25 at the termini of the wooden supporting runs or tracks 20, for the plates to slide over as they come up into the horizontal position. This roll is located directly back of the supporting pulleys and the sprockets.

In order to provide something to take up the'next bar at the rear and to provide at all times a free passage for the circulation of air between these projections 22 crosswise and above the plate and below the bar 12. In this way the air can circulate not only through perforations or interstices in the plate 16 but also has a chance to come up under the several bars 12, thns'according 'free and full circulation at all times.

T his mechanism not only affords several advantages in the construction and operation, but does away with the troublesome endless conveyer which at first sight seems the'simplest form of carrier possible, but in practice it is open to numerous practical objections.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In a carrier, the combination with a fixed support, of chains above the support, a series of plates pivotally connected with the chains, located betweenthem, and dragging along on said support at their rear edges and overlapping each other to hold the material to be carried but vertically spaced materially apart at their overlapping ends to afford wide air spaces between them.

2. In a carrier, the combination with a fixed support and a pair of chains above it, of a series of. plates connected with the chains at their forward ends, their rear ends resting on said supportand overlapping each other to support the material to be carried, the forward end of each plate being spaced above the rear of the next one in advance and entirely free thereof.

3. In a carrier, the combination with a track and a pair of endless chains, of a series of plates connected with the chains at their forward ends, their rear ends resting on said support and overlapping each other to support the material to be carried, the forward end of each plate being spaced above the rear of the next one in advallC-e, said track comprising a plurality of parallel rails, and said plates having bearing blocks resting on said rails.

4. In a carrier, the combination with a track and a pair of chains, a series of cross rods supported by, and between said chains, platesconnected with the rods at their forward ends, their rear ends resting on said track, the forward end of each plate, being spaced above the rear of the next one in advance, said tracks comprising a plurality of parallel rails, and said plates having bearing blocks resting on said rails and similarly spaced projections on their upper surfaces under one of the cross rods to afford spaces for air circulation between them and under the cross rods.

5. In a carrier, the combination with a track and a pair of chains, a-series of cross rods supported by and between said chains, plates connected with the rods at their forward ends, their rear ends resting on said track, the forward end of each plate being spaced above the rear of the next one in advance, said plates having spaced projections on their upper surfaces under one of the cross rods to afford spaces for air circulation between them and under the cross rods.

6. In a carrier, the combination of a se ries of cross rods, means for supporting and advancing said rods, each rod having a longitudinal slot, a plate passing into said slot, and tracks 011 which the opposite ends of said-plates drag as the rods move- 7. In a carrier, the combination of a series of tubular cross rods, means for sup,- porting and advancing said rods, each rod having a longitudinal slotthrough its wall at the rear, a plate having a thickened margin passing into said slot, the margin lee-ing thicker than the slot opening and located inside the rod, and tracks on which the op posite ends of said plates drag as the rods move.

8. In a carrier, the combination of an endless carrier comprising endless chains, a series of plates connected with the chains at one end and unconnected with it at the other to support the material to be carried, and means at the end of the carrier for keeping the plates substantially in contact with each other as they pass around the end of the carrier.

9. In a carrier, the combination with a traveling driving member, of series of in clined parallel plates for supporting the material to be carried, their upper .ends being connected with said driving member, and stationary means parallel. with and below said driving member for engaging and directly Supporting the lower ends of said plates.

l0. In a carrier, the combination with a traveling driving member, of a series of inclined parallel plates for supporting the material to be carried, their'upper ends being connected with said driving member, stationary means parallel with and below said driving member for supporting the lower ends of said plates, and a roll located in stationary bearings at the end of said stationary means to support the plates as they pass into engagement therewith.

11. In a carrier, the combination with a support, of chains above the support, a series of plates pivotally connected with the chains, located between them, and dragging along said support at their rear edges and overlapping each other to hold the material to be carried, a pair of sprocket wheels over which said chains pass, and supporting wheels on the same axes as the sprocket wheels and located between them for holding the free ends of the plates as they pass around the sprocket wheels.

12. In a carrier, the combination with a fixed support, of an endless carrier comprising endless chains, a series of plates connected with the chains, resting on and dragging along on said support and overlapping each other to support the material to be carried, and means at the end of the carrier for keeping the plates substantially in contact with each other as they pass around the end of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

FRANK L. FURBUSH. 

